MPH / Department of Public Health / Background: Globally, more than one billion people, or approximately 15% of the world’s population are living with some form of disability and 80% of them are found in developing countries. There are different types of disability; these include sensory, neurological, physical, intellectual, cognitive and psychiatric disabilities. Persons with disabilities may require specialized care, resources and commitment which place a very high demand of time and responsibilities on the one caring for them. Therefore, Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) was promoted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a strategy to respond to the needs of persons with disabilities, through the provision of basic services at community level, particularly in developing countries with limited resources. Methodology: The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the challenges faced by Community-Based Rehabilitation caregivers for persons with disabilities in Vhembe District, South Africa. A qualitative phenomenological design was used to explore and develop an in-depth understanding of the CBR caregiver’s challenges. The study was conducted in three Community-Based Rehabilitation centres located within Vhembe District with a sample size of six caregivers who were purposively selected. An interview guide was developed as an instrument for data collection. Data was collected through in-depth individual interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Six main themes emerged from the data which shed light on the CBR caregiver’s challenges, namely; Poor relationships between caregivers, government v department and families, unavailability of material and human resources, poor funding system, caregivers’ well-being, education and training and the coping strategies of CBR caregivers Conclusion: This study pointed out that there is a need for intervention from different stakeholders such as government departments, family members of persons with disability, and the community members as well for CBR caregiver’s challenges to be resolved or minimized.

MA (Sociology) / Department of African Studies / The aim of the study was to investigate the challenges faced by families living with mentally ill relatives in Thulamela municipality in the Vhembe district, Limpopo province. The objectives of the study were to investigate the impact that caring for a mentally ill person had on the family members; to explore the strategies adopted by families to enable them to cope better with the challenges they faced when caring for their mentally ill relatives; and to understand the support services that were provided to families by health care professionals to enable them to cope with such challenges. A Nonprobability sampling, in particular its subtype convenience samplings was used to select five families who participated in the study. A semi-structured interview schedule was used to collect data from the main care givers and a focus group discussion took place to gather more in-depth information from at least three members of each family. Those selected to participate in the study were all family members who were involved in the care giving responsibility. All participants were caring for mentally ill relatives diagnosed with schizophrenia, substance induced psychosis or bipolar affective. The care recipient had to be admitted at Hayani psychiatry hospital. Data extracted from the participants was analysed thematically following the six stages of thematic data analysis.The research findings obtained from family caregivers from Thulamela municipality found in the Vhembe district within the Limpopo province, highlighted that taking care of a family members with mental illness comes with a number of challenges. The impact was experienced by all members of the family irrespective of the age, social or financial status. The impact was experienced emotionally, physically, socially and financially. All participants also reported to be experiencing burnout. They prefer their loved ones to remain living in mental institution as it gives them a chance to live normal lives. / NRF

Thesis (M. A. (Information Studies)) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / The contribution of library and information services in general towards academic performance improvement of visually impaired students cannot be emphasised. At the University of Limpopo, visually impaired students, like any other students, are continually exposed to an overwhelming mass of visual materials such as textbooks, course outlines, class timetables, lecture notes, whiteboards, writing, memos etcetera. In addition, the use of videos, computers and Blackboard adds to the volume of visual materials to which they have only limited access. One would content that the University of Limpopo, especially after establishing the Audio-Braille library, has done reasonably well in a bid to improving library services of students living with disabilities, however, this is not the reality to the visually impaired themselves. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the role of the Audio-Braille library in contributing towards the academic performance of students with visual impairments at the University of Limpopo, South Africa. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed in this study. The researcher distributed questionnaires to all visually impaired students registered for the 2017 academic year at the University of Limpopo’s Reakgona Disability Centre and conducted interviews with the lecturers who teach these students. The findings indicate that although many students acknowledged the library’s contribution, a greater number of respondents revealed that the library lack relevant up-to-date academic reading material in alternative formats such as braille, large print as well as electronic. The main value of this study is to impart knowledge by pointing out major contributions of the Audio-Braille library with hope that this knowledge will encourage and motivates visually impaired students to make use of the library. Students could improve on their academic performance, abilities and possibilities, and boost their confidence and self-esteem by fully using the Audio-Braille library and its resources. Access to the relevant library facilities and resources ameliorates effects of their disabilities and gives them a chance to be “equal” to the so-called normal students v The findings of this study will also help in enhancing both the quality of education for the visually impaired, as well as the Audio-Braille library services because there is still a lot of inexperience around library services for visually impaired students at the University of Limpopo and maybe in other universities as well. Therefore, the AudioBraille library must ensure that all visually impaired students receive unsurpassed library and information services like any other students by expanding its collection so that student receive books, information, lecturer notes and other study materials that they need in their academic development process in appropriate formats.

Since 1994, various policies and guidelines, pertaining to the employment of people with disabilities have been promulgated. All of these policies highlighted the importance of employment equity and equality within the working environment. Despite all these policies and guidelines people with disabilities are still experiencing barriers within the working environment. These barriers prevent them from functioning optimally and equally alongside able-bodied colleagues. The requirements of people with disabilities are still not integrated into the general considerations of the workplace. In order to determine what factors people with physical disabilities perceive as important with regard to equality in the workplace, a combination of a qualitative and quantitative research approach were followed. Both convenient and Snowball/Chain sampling was utilised to identify the research participants. The data was gathered by means of an intensive literature study, as well as utilisation of surveys and interviews. After analysing the data, specific conclusions could be made. The sample was not representative of the total population, so these conclusions could not be generalised, it could however indicate certain trends. The conclusions with regard to the study could be utilised to improve the management of employees with physical disabilities in order to promote workplace equality. Certain recommendations in this regard have been made. Recommendations on how social workers could assist with the attainment of workplace equality for employees with disabilities have also been made. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Science)

Since 1994, various policies and guidelines, pertaining to the employment of people with disabilities have been promulgated. All of these policies highlighted the importance of employment equity and equality within the working environment. Despite all these policies and guidelines people with disabilities are still experiencing barriers within the working environment. These barriers prevent them from functioning optimally and equally alongside able-bodied colleagues. The requirements of people with disabilities are still not integrated into the general considerations of the workplace. In order to determine what factors people with physical disabilities perceive as important with regard to equality in the workplace, a combination of a qualitative and quantitative research approach were followed. Both convenient and Snowball/Chain sampling was utilised to identify the research participants. The data was gathered by means of an intensive literature study, as well as utilisation of surveys and interviews. After analysing the data, specific conclusions could be made. The sample was not representative of the total population, so these conclusions could not be generalised, it could however indicate certain trends. The conclusions with regard to the study could be utilised to improve the management of employees with physical disabilities in order to promote workplace equality. Certain recommendations in this regard have been made. Recommendations on how social workers could assist with the attainment of workplace equality for employees with disabilities have also been made. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Science)

The study was undertaken to deepen understanding of living with a spinal cord injury (SCI) in the rural communities of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa (RSA). The OR Tambo District Municipality, which was selected for its accessibility to the researcher, is virtually rural, the infrastructure is poorly developed and there is low socio-economic activity in the rural areas of the old Transkei. In the RSA services for management and rehabilitation of SCIs varies from province to province. A Heideggerian phenomenological approach was used to interpret the meaning of living with SCI persons in a rural community. The purpose was to describe and interpret what being-in the-world as a spinal cord injured person meant to the particpants. A key assumption in phenomenology is that understanding human beings and their actions is best achieved through examination of human experiences. Experience, including experience with living with SCI, offers itself as a record of human encounters, the interface between persons and their world, and experience can only be understood in terms of background and the social context of the experience (Pateman & Johnson 2000: 51). Phenomenological interviews with ten people living with SCI explored their experience. The overall goal was to increase awareness of their experiences of living with SCI, and to encourage incorporation of knowledge gained into nursing practice. The central question in the study was `What is it like to live with a spinal cord injury in a rural community? Data were analysed according to Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenology. Two main themes were identified, namely reconceptualising being-in-the-world as a person with a disability; and being-with-each-other: experiencing being excluded, objectified and marginalized. The participants engaged in a process of reconstructing their identities following the traumatic loss of sensory and motor functioning. Data reflect the social and economic context in which living with SCI is experienced. The respondents' life experiences were influenced by socio-political, economic and historical factors, namely geographic location, poor infrastructure, poverty, low educational status, and unemployment and the community at large. It was noted that participants experienced difficulties in several areas in their daily life realm; naming, coping with health and disability problems, family interactions and relationships, and non-accessibility of amenities, including their own dwellings. In addition, being a person living with an SCI in the rural communities of the OR Tambo District Municipality carries a high physical and social risk due to lack of resources. The inability to live up to generally expected social roles led to role dissatisfaction. There is an urgent need for social support to overcome the negative societal attitudes experienced. They are forced into isolation with a limited social life and are poorly integrated into the communities in which they live. Most of what the participants raised pointed towards inadequate preparation for the outside world. Therefore, a holistic approach to rehabilitation is recommended, as holism means addressing the physical, social, emotional and cognitive needs. Accordingly, the researcher developed guidelines for facilitating community integration. In conclusion, understanding how people experience living with SCI in a rural community is an essential prerequisite to the development of appropriate strategies to facilitate community integration. / Health Studies / D. Litt et Phil (Health Studies)

Text in Afrikaans / Indigenous literature about the experience of a couple, where one of the spouses experiences a spinal cord injury, is scarce in the frame of social work. The experience of 5 couples (10 participants), after a spinal cord injury of one of the spouses was researched in this qualitative study. The aim of this research study is: • to reconnoiter participants’ experience of a spinal cord injury of a spouse, through semi-structured interviews with a purposeful chosen sample • to subject the research findings to a literature control • to make recommendations about how spouses can support each other, as well as how professional people can support client systems, where one of the spouses experience a spinal cord injury From the data it was determined that a spinal cord injury had significantly influenced the couples: - emotions - needs - perceptions (origination of experiences) Recommendations to couples as well as to professional people have been made. / Social Work / Thesis (M. Diac.)

The study was undertaken to deepen understanding of living with a spinal cord injury (SCI) in the rural communities of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa (RSA). The OR Tambo District Municipality, which was selected for its accessibility to the researcher, is virtually rural, the infrastructure is poorly developed and there is low socio-economic activity in the rural areas of the old Transkei. In the RSA services for management and rehabilitation of SCIs varies from province to province. A Heideggerian phenomenological approach was used to interpret the meaning of living with SCI persons in a rural community. The purpose was to describe and interpret what being-in the-world as a spinal cord injured person meant to the particpants. A key assumption in phenomenology is that understanding human beings and their actions is best achieved through examination of human experiences. Experience, including experience with living with SCI, offers itself as a record of human encounters, the interface between persons and their world, and experience can only be understood in terms of background and the social context of the experience (Pateman & Johnson 2000: 51). Phenomenological interviews with ten people living with SCI explored their experience. The overall goal was to increase awareness of their experiences of living with SCI, and to encourage incorporation of knowledge gained into nursing practice. The central question in the study was `What is it like to live with a spinal cord injury in a rural community? Data were analysed according to Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenology. Two main themes were identified, namely reconceptualising being-in-the-world as a person with a disability; and being-with-each-other: experiencing being excluded, objectified and marginalized. The participants engaged in a process of reconstructing their identities following the traumatic loss of sensory and motor functioning. Data reflect the social and economic context in which living with SCI is experienced. The respondents' life experiences were influenced by socio-political, economic and historical factors, namely geographic location, poor infrastructure, poverty, low educational status, and unemployment and the community at large. It was noted that participants experienced difficulties in several areas in their daily life realm; naming, coping with health and disability problems, family interactions and relationships, and non-accessibility of amenities, including their own dwellings. In addition, being a person living with an SCI in the rural communities of the OR Tambo District Municipality carries a high physical and social risk due to lack of resources. The inability to live up to generally expected social roles led to role dissatisfaction. There is an urgent need for social support to overcome the negative societal attitudes experienced. They are forced into isolation with a limited social life and are poorly integrated into the communities in which they live. Most of what the participants raised pointed towards inadequate preparation for the outside world. Therefore, a holistic approach to rehabilitation is recommended, as holism means addressing the physical, social, emotional and cognitive needs. Accordingly, the researcher developed guidelines for facilitating community integration. In conclusion, understanding how people experience living with SCI in a rural community is an essential prerequisite to the development of appropriate strategies to facilitate community integration. / Health Studies / D. Litt et Phil (Health Studies)

Text in Afrikaans / Indigenous literature about the experience of a couple, where one of the spouses experiences a spinal cord injury, is scarce in the frame of social work. The experience of 5 couples (10 participants), after a spinal cord injury of one of the spouses was researched in this qualitative study. The aim of this research study is: • to reconnoiter participants’ experience of a spinal cord injury of a spouse, through semi-structured interviews with a purposeful chosen sample • to subject the research findings to a literature control • to make recommendations about how spouses can support each other, as well as how professional people can support client systems, where one of the spouses experience a spinal cord injury From the data it was determined that a spinal cord injury had significantly influenced the couples: - emotions - needs - perceptions (origination of experiences) Recommendations to couples as well as to professional people have been made. / Social Work / Thesis (M. Diac.)

Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Social workers are increasingly being encouraged to include the economic development of their clients in the intervention strategies they apply. As a result of this, social work programmes with income generating activities are becoming commonplace within the social work arena. People with disabilities have been identified as a group that should be targeted for support in income generating activities and small business initiatives. An exploratory study of the effect of a social work programme on the lives of people with disabilities was undertaken. A literature study was conducted on perspectives and intervention strategies that are applied in social work intervention with people with disabilities. This included the ecological and strengths perspectives of social work as it applies to people with disabilities. The empowerment approach was described as an intervention strategy to be applied by social workers working with people with disabilities. Disability in South Africa was explored by focussing on the disability rights movement as well as the policies and institutions that affect the lives of people with disabilities. Little research has been done to explore the effect of social work programmes with income generating activities on the lives of the people involved in them. Exploratory research was done in the Western Cape using the interview survey for data collection,. The experiences of people with disabilities, who are members of a social work income-generating programme, were explored. Information obtained during the interviews is presented in four categories, namely: demographic information of the respondents, the nature of the respondents' disabilities, respondents' involvement in the programme and their awareness of their rights as people with disabilities. The study revealed that although, income generating activities were the focus of the programme, respondents did not identify economic rewards as the main reason for remaining in the programme. Respondents identified emotional and social rewards as being of most value to them in their membership of the programme. It is therefore concludedthat social work programmes should include both income-generating activities as well as activities that will enhance the emotional and social development of people with disabilities. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Maatskaplike werkers word al hoe meer aangemoedig om die ekonomiese opheffing van hul kliënte in te sluit by die intervensie strategieë wat hul implementeer. Gevolglik word strategieë met inkomste-genererende aktiwiteite al hoe meer alledaags in die maatskaplike werk arena. Mense met gestremdhede is as 'n groep geïdentifiseer om ondersteuning in inkomste-genererende aktiwiteite en kleinsake inisiatiewe te ontvang. 'n Verkennende studie is onderneem om die effek van 'n maatskaplike werkprogram op die lewens van mense met gestremdhede te ondersoek. 'n Literatuurstudie is ook onderneem om die maatskaplike werk perspektiewe en intervensie strategieë wat van toepassing is op mense met gestremdhede, te beskryf. Dit het die maatskaplike werk ekologiese en sterkte perspektiewe ingesluit en ook hoe dit van toepassing is op mense met gestremdhede. Die bemagtigings benadering in maatskapike werk en die toepassing daarvan op mense met gestremdhede word ook beskryf. Gestremdheid in Suid-Afrika is verken deur te fokus op die gestremdheids regtebeweging, sowel as die beleid en instansies wat 'n effek het op die lewens van mense met gestremdhede. Min navorsing is tot dusver gedoen om die effek van maatskaplike werkprogramme met inkomste-genererende aktiwiteite op die lewens van mense met gestremdhede te verken. Verkennende navorsing is in die Wes-Kaap gedoen met behulp van onderhoude as 'n instrument vir data insameling. Die ervaringe van mense met gestremdhede, wie lede van 'n maatskaplike werk inkomstegenererende program is, is verken. Inligting wat ingewin is gedurende onderhoude word in vier kategorië aangebied, naamlik: demografiese inligting van respondente, die aard van respondente se gestremdhede, respondente se betrokkenheid by die program sowel as hulle bewustheid van hulle regte as gestremdes. In die studie is bevind dat alhoewel inkomste-genererende aktiwiteite die fokus van die program was, het respondente nie noodwendig die ekonomiese beloning as die hoof rede om in die program aan te bly, geïdentifiseer nie. Respondente het die emosionele en sosiale beloning geïdentifiseer as die aspek wat die meeste waarde vir hulle ingehou het. Die gevolgtrekking is dus dat maatskaplike werk programme beide inkomste-genererende aktiwiteite, sowel as aktiwiteite wat die emosionele en sosiale ontwikkeling van gestremdes aanmoedig, moet insluit.